Alternatives
BLE Scale Sync reads the scale on an always-on host instead of a phone. The table compares it with the phone apps used for the same job.
Comparison
| BLE Scale Sync | openScale | openScale-sync | Manufacturer App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker | Android | Android | iOS / Android |
| Headless (always-on) | Yes, Raspberry Pi or server | No | No | No |
| Phone required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| BLE connectivity | Local adapter, ESP32 or ESPHome proxy, or Home Assistant Bluetooth (transports) | Phone BLE | Phone BLE | Phone BLE |
| Garmin Connect | Automatic upload | No | Via Health Connect | Some (indirect) |
| Strava | Automatic weight sync | No | No | No |
| MQTT / Home Assistant | Auto-discovery, LWT | No | Yes | No |
| Other targets | InfluxDB, webhook, ntfy, and more | No | Health Connect, Wger | No |
| Local file export | CSV and JSONL | SQLite | No | No |
| Multi-user | Automatic weight matching | Manual selection | Per-user sync | Per-account |
| Supported scales | 42 protocol adapters | Many brands | Via openScale | Own brand only |
| Body composition | BIA from impedance | Varies | From openScale | Varies |
| Docker | Multi-arch images | No | No | No |
| Open source | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 | No |
BLE Scale Sync
Best for:
- Garmin Connect and Strava sync without a phone
- Home automation over MQTT, InfluxDB or webhooks
- An always-on Raspberry Pi or server, with an ESP32 proxy when the server has no Bluetooth
- Households where the app tells users apart by weight
- A local CSV or JSONL log next to cloud exports
Limitations:
- Needs an always-on host in Bluetooth range of the scale, or a proxy near it
- The Docker image runs on Linux only
openScale
openScale is an open-source Android app that reads BLE scales on the phone. Many of BLE Scale Sync's scale adapters are ported from it.
Best for:
- Android users who prefer a phone app
- A local-first scale tracker on the phone
Limitations:
- The phone must be near the scale for every measurement
- No Garmin Connect, Strava or MQTT export of its own
openScale-sync
openScale-sync is a companion Android app that sends openScale measurements to Health Connect, Wger and MQTT.
Best for:
- openScale users who want Garmin Connect sync through Health Connect
- Android users who want MQTT export without a server
Limitations:
- Needs both openScale and openScale-sync on an Android phone
- No InfluxDB, webhook or ntfy support
Manufacturer apps
Renpho, Yunmai, Xiaomi and similar apps are the shortest path if you use one brand.
Best for:
- Households with scales of one brand who want the vendor's own metrics
Limitations:
- Locked to one brand's scales
- No direct Garmin Connect export (some go through Health Connect on Android)
- No MQTT, InfluxDB or webhook integration
- A phone is needed for every measurement
- Measurements usually live in the vendor's cloud account